" 'Twas the night before Christmas..." begins the popular poem written in 1828 by Clement Moore.  The poem has become a Christmas classic told to many children as they await the arrival of Santa Claus.  This year the Christmas decorations at the Read House in New Castle will illustrate the various verses of the poem.

Visitors to the Read House will get a glimpse of what Christmas was like when the Reads were in residence in 1828.  Decorations of the period will be seen in the front parlour where "Stockings were hung by the chimney with care..."  And if you've always wondered what exactly are "sugar plums", a tour through the children's bedroom will explain the delicacy that Clement Moore described as being in the children's dreams.  Visitors to the Read House will learn how Christmas traditions as we know them today evolved from this earlier time.

The George Read House, 
operated by the Historical Society of Delaware, 
is located on The Strand in Old New Castle. 
The Christmas display will be open on 
Friday, November 24 through January 2001.
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
and Sunday Noon - 4 p.m.

Please call (302) 322-8411 for more information.